RainOfSteel
SOC-14 1K
Quite some time ago, I posted a limited overview of how I thought jurisdication of worlds functioned in regards to non-members worlds, and how "fighting" over the space would work. (My apologies, I cannot locate the original post, though I retained the original text.)
I received some PMs asking me to work on it, and naturally I procrastinated just a teeny weency bit.
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Much of what will follow is based largely on MTU.
It is my hope that anyone who reads this might find some value for their conceptions of the TU as whole, despite the limitations that are imposed by MTU's concepts.
Thus, this will come in two parts.
The first will go over some of MTU's concepts.
The second will go over the main topic.
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PART ONE: Abbreivations & Conventions
Noble Titles
</font><blockquote>code:</font><hr /><pre style="font-size:x-small; font-family: monospace;">OTU MTU Imperial Government District (MTU)
Emperor Emperor Imperium
Archduke Archduke Domain
Sector Duke Duke Sector
Duke Count Subsector
Count -- -- (OTU: County*)
Viscount -- -- (OTU: County*)
Marquis Margrave Mainworld
Baron Baron Non-Mainworld
Baronet Baronet --
Knight Knight --
* "Two or three worlds," supposedly.</pre>[/QUOTE]All nobles have a Title (by Patent of Nobility) from the Emperor that confers upon them their noble status.
All Titles have Title Properties: cash accounts, financial instruments, starships, heirlooms, land, and Imperial Government Districts. These are bestowed upon the Title when it is created by the Title Creator (the Emperor or an Archduke). The amount bestowed is "traditionally commensurate" with the type of Title being created. In practice, it is an amount that will allow the new Title Holder a level of earnings that will prevent the rest of the aristocracy from potentially being embarrassed by a poverty stricken new member among their ranks. For the rare new Ruling Noble, it will contain sufficient funds to make sure that they are capable of maintaining a personal office capable of handling their level of Imperial Government District. Baronets and Knights receive very little, usually just cash payouts and a few gifts (mustering-out benefits). Non-Ruling Nobles receive more than this, but all such Title Properties pay/generate very little in comparison to the wealth made available to a Ruling Noble through their stipend/pay-out they receive as a fraction of the tax share passing through their level of Imperial Government District (1% of the tax share).
It is each noble's duty to nurture and develop (or in some cases protect) the value of any their Title Properties, as well as to expand them. It is a serious violation of Noblesse Oblige to reduce or damage the value of any Title Properties, and even Archdukes are not immune to punishment for violations (as seen at one time in the Gateway domain).
Baron is by far the most common new Ruling Noble Title, although that is not saying much since only a handful are created each new decade in the modern Imperial. Most non-mainworlds are rarely initially capable of paying their assessed share of Imperial Taxes, the local Count and Duke cooperate to assure that the Title is given a sufficient subsidy to pay that share of taxes. In effect, the Duke and Count are using subsector and sector funds to make sure a new element of their fief functions normally. They are, in a way, paying themselves in a circle at this point. This is a normal and accepted way of integrating poor worlds into the Imperium while the local new Ruling Noble works to nurture and develop the world's economy with an eye toward terminating the subsidy from above as quickly as possible. Non-mainworlds without a Baron have their tax shares handled through their parent mainworld and that mainworld's Margrave.
Baron to Archduke + Imperial Government District among Title Properties = Ruling Noble.
Ruling Nobles administer a portion of Imperial Taxes that flow from worlds to subsectors to sectors and thence to the Imperial level and the Emperor. This is done through the office of the Ruling Noble with the support of Ministry of the Treasury personnel.
Member Worlds owe 2% of their officially assessed GWP each year in Imperial Credits as taxes.
LMWA, Limited Member World Authority is the body of law that states a Member World is free to autonomously govern itself without Imperial interference as long as it obeys minimum law levels and pays its taxes.
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GWP: Gross World Product
CCS: Candidate Client State
CS: Client State
MW: Member World
LMWA: Limited Member World Autonomy
MoS: Ministry of State
MoT: Ministry of the Treasury
MoJ: Ministry of Justice
MoC: Ministry of Commerce
Services: Navy, Marines, Army, and Scouts
Intelligence: I3, and ISS
I3: Imperial Interstellar Intelligence
ISS: Imperial Secret Service
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PART TWO: Imerial Member World Admission
IMPERIAL MEMBER WORLD ADMISSION
This describes the post Civil War standard process for any world to be admitted into the Imperium, i.e. those worlds that apply for admission (through whatever avenue), and become Candidate Client States, Client States, and finally, Member Worlds. The processes surrounding conquered worlds are quite different, and will be described separately.
APPLICATION & CANDIDACY
OVERVIEW
Polities outside and unaffiliated with the Imperium (except for diplomatic relations) may apply for entry into the Imperium at any time. The process is extensive, and the speed at which it occurs is based upon many factors. The process also differs based on whether it is an individual world, or a polity of many worlds, although single worlds applying for entry is far more common.
THE DESIRE TO JOIN
A polity must decide, one way or another, that it wishes to join the Imperium. Why would any polity make this decision?
DEFENSE
The Imperium possesses enormous armadas of interstellar warships, legions of troops, and agents without number, far more than any one world or even small group of worlds could hope to afford. The Imperium takes the defense of its Member Worlds seriously and as a matter of honor and Noblesse Oblige. It will deploy its forces to defend its worlds against external aggression. In many cases, merely being a Client States is sufficient to deter some forms of aggression.
ECONOMIC
Trade is the lifeblood of the Imperium. Commercial interstellar vessels in untold numbers range through the Imperial worlds, bringing goods back and forth amongst the stars. The Imperium imposes duties and tariffs upon goods originating from beyond its borders, and once a world is within the Imperium, those trader barriers are gone.
Additionally, the Imperium frequently substantially upgrades the local starport, a benefits worth tens of billions of Credits, or more. In most cases, the Imperium's SPA will take over the starport completely, paying for all its operations.
PRIVATE
It is a sad but true fact that many polities join the Imperium for the sole purpose of placing the polity's ruler in the position of new Ruling Noble for the world. This combination is incredibly powerful. Not only will the new Ruling Noble possess all the Imperial Authority of their new Title, but, if successful, will retain all their original authority over the world's polity (although this can only rarely last beyond the life of a single individual). Given the more than eight-year absence (including travel time) needed to complete the full course at an Imperial Studies College, this is not always as easy as it sounds. Some polity rulers will send a proxy to become the new Imperial noble, and the proxy will attend Imperial Studies College, and hopefully will be sufficiently malleable upon return (or the reverse, the proxy will be left behind in charge of the world's polity). This arrangement includes what is known as a Title Eligibility Deferment, where the prospective Ruling Noble is given time to enroll in and complete a course of studies. Records of prior education may serve to shorten the necessary time period.
It is also true that in many cases various parts of the Imperial Government, especially the Ministry of State (MoS), Imperial Interstellar Intelligence (I3), and the Great Megacorporations will have their own agendas in assuring that the polity joins. In some cases, the above parties may have instigated the overture itself indirectly. This can involve a scale of immense bribery with literally hundreds of millions of credits (or more) raining down upon key figures of the local polity.
The benefits in wealth to the new Ruling Noble and any associates are enormous. The new Title comes with various money earning Title Properties. Access is also granted to the highest social circles of the local subsector and sector. The galas and social events that form the activities of choice for the upper crust are where the alliances and business deals are forged that can make trillions of credits
OVERTURES
The polity in question must make overtures to Imperial officials indicating the desire to apply for Member World status. This can be done through many offices, such as the Ministry of State, or one of several levels of noble offices. As the centuries have rolled by, it has become traditional for the applying polity to request an invitation to one or another major annual parties thrown by the local Duke. Unless the polity has kept its intentions secret, the Duke's servants will know what the purpose is, and will extend the invitation. Given travel and communication times, this can take anywhere from six months to two years to set up properly. A ceremony is planned for a specific time during the party, and the polity's ambassador will present an official letter of intent seeking status as a Client State. This is usually accompanied by a pause and gathering in the party, at least two speeches, several toasts, and much applause. In some rare cases the letter may request direct Member World status (such as worlds that were, at one time in the past, previous Member Worlds),
On many occasions, there may be extensive pressure on the polity from many sources to make the overture in order to begin the process. This can take the form of any number of Imperial parties, Megacorporations, nobles, Ministries, Services, etc., all of whom will have their own reasons for pushing the world into the Imperium. Sometimes the level of collective pressure forms an effectively irresistible force of media bombardment, political collusion, and covert activity to create apparent grass-roots movements.
Polities that chose to keep their intentions a secret before making the overture will have a tougher time of it. Even if they can contact the proper officials, given that there is no publicly known intent on their world, it will take extensive work in presentation and evidence from the ambassadorial team to make their case that their application is genuine. If the negotiations themselves are to be kept secret, this can extend the process of the overture itself by years.
Within the Imperium, declaring a world a Candidate Client State, Client State, or Member World is always done publicly, and is a major news event, and there can be no secrecy from this point on. Polities that have kept their intentions secret from their own populations can face considerable difficulties if they fail to properly present the case of their intentions before the announcement in the Imperium, although for some oppressive governments this isn't too large a hurdle.
It is traditional for polities that willingly join the Imperium to choose their own planetary nobles (Margraves and Barons) from among their own populace. If a polity exceeds subsector size, it may select a Count for the subsector, or even multiple Counts for multi subsector polities. No sector-wide polity has even joined the Imperium willingly, and even if it did, it is passing unlikely that it would be able to select its own Duke (the Emperor is likely to retain that privilege). The polity's choice or choices are most often parceled out at this point.
CANDIDATE CLIENT STATES (CCSs)
Each polity must undergo a period of candidacy for Client State status. The Imperium will build and staff an office of the Ministry of State, and it will monitor the opinion of the world's populace, as well as the actions of the polity government. All the other branches of the Imperial Government will also have a presence in the MoS office, though I3 will have the largest. It will perform covert monitoring, and potentially will undertake social engineering, if it is deemed necessary. During this period of time, several things must be done. The fact that the process of becoming a Client State of the Imperium must be made publicly known to the populace, local opposition and anti-Imperial activity will be tracked. The polity government must show that it has a believable plan to begin obeying the Imperial Justice Entitlement (the Imperial Human Rights Accord, the Imperial Rules of War, etc.). The polity government must show that it is making successful attempts to convince the populace that its course of action is correct (the amount of anti-Imperial and polity government opposition and terrorism will be the meter-stick that defines the success of this metric). The polity government must show that it has a believable plan to pay taxes in Imperial Credits, although it need not actually pay them at this point. If the polity has not made its internal selections of nobility (as mentioned above) before now, those selections must be made now (for those few polities that wait beyond the overture stage for making these selections, now is the time they chose).
The world's polity receives official jurisdiction over its own world (and any body with active manned outposts, either planet side or in orbit), and in most cases receives tentative official jurisdiction over all other bodies in the solar system, as well (the Imperial Navy retains an override at this point). Only in special cases will the polity not retain jurisdiction over any of the other bodies. Other parties may file with the Duke's office to receive jurisdiction over other bodies in the solar system at this time, in which case the Duke must rule on who is assigned the contested jurisdiction.
If the world has less than a D starport, and the process appears to be going well, the MoC will begin construction of a new SPA D class starport. If the world has a D, C, or B starport, the MoC will supply SPA personnel and equipment to upgrade the local starport one grade. A class local starports will get the once-over by SPA regulators who will pass on their recommendations to the MoS for future consideration. If the CCS wants the SPA to take over an existing starport permanently, this will have to be planned for at this stage. If the world appears incapable of managing its starport to SPA regulations and standards, Imperial Officials will begin pressing for an SPA takeover.
The MoS, the prospective new Imperial Ruling Noble, and the world's polity will meet many times and make decisions about what land will be given over to the Imperium, if any. This negotiation process will take years. Land for downports is generally easy to secure, because the world's polity is interested in making sure trade flows smoothly. But lands in major cities for Imperial Government offices (if any), and lands for the prospective new Imperial noble, are much harder to decide on.
The Imperium requires that all Ruling Nobles must graduate from an Imperial Studies College, and the MoS is tasked with assuring that this occurs for the new prospective Imperial Ruling Noble for the CCS during this stage (transport, education, etc.). The Client State usually pays for this, but in the case of poorer worlds, the MoS pays for it and bills the local Count or Duke for compensation (usually taking several years to work its way through red tape).
The MoS, the MoJ, I3, and the ISS all concentrate on assuring themselves that any oppressive elements of the local polity cease and desist in any activities that the Imperium would consider criminal.
Believable plans must be made to bring any interstellar warships in-line with Imperial regulations requiring that Member Worlds not operator jump-capable warships, use nuclear or meson weapons, or have ships massing more than 100,000 dTons. Existing vessels will have their Zuchai crystal cores removed at some point during the CS-stage later on. All nuclear weapons (of all forces, not just the interstellar navy) will be inventoried and accounted for. Existing meson weapon installations are tolerated for a period of up to 40 years after the vessel's construction date, but must be removed after that (or the vessel must be scrapped). Existing vessels of greater than 100,000 dTons displacement may continue on until their retirement. INI is heavily involved in these activities.
The Imperial Navy will often move a squadron of warships to the world during this stage, and for political reasons, will almost always have one stationed here during the entire period. The ship will usually be a multi-role heavy cruiser or larger, with troops, small craft, and fighters in addition to heavy weaponry.
Imperial Megacorporate interests, usually already present, will continue on. Other corporations from the nearby sector or sectors will take additional notice and many will try to expand their business here.
Arrangements are made to provide standardized converions of local dates and times to those of the Imperial Calendar.
The period of time a polity will spend as a Candidate Client State is variable. As soon as the various goals that the Imperium uses to mark the success of the process are thought to be completed, the polity can move on to full Client State status. Also, the responsible Duke must have ruled any and all contested Jurisdictions on. The litmus test is often held to be: Whenever the Candidate Client State is ready to move on to implementation of all the plans it has been making. Every world is different in the amount of time it takes.
CLIENT STATES
At this point, all the planning a Candidate Client State has made is put to the test, and implementation gets underway. The MoS and I3 are watching every step of the way. The SPA may choose to expand its facilities, or assist in expanding local facilities, based on the economic outlook of the world and the current grade of the starport. Taxes must now be paid in Imperial Credits. The MoS will take the lead in making sure the Imperium and the world both obey the rules of Limited Member World Autonomy (LMWA), and in introducing the world's polity to its permanent interface with the Imperial Government via its new Ruling Noble. The new noble will also be assisted by the MoS, as well.
Naturally, there are often numerous problems at this stage. The sudden drain placed on the CS by paying its GWP share of taxes often causes an initial economic down turn that raises anti-Imperial opposition (no matter how successfully quelled during the CCS stage). In the long term, this down turn is flattened out by returning economic benefits from interstellar trade. Some CSs decide at this stage that they want the SPA to take over their existing starport, causing problems with the late stage of the decision.
Final jurisdictions over bodies in the solar system (other than the polity's own world and outposts; which have already been officially granted) are assigned at this point, and all interested parties are clear on this (although the Imperial Military retains an override at this point). Further disputes may be filed, but official jurisdictions are difficult to transfer.
Most CSs that can afford it will chose to have a Self Defense Force (SDF). This will include air, sea, land, and space forces, and will almost always include all pre-existing military forces. The CS will be given temporary military jurisdiction out to its 100 diameter limit; although at this stage the locally stationed Imperial Navy squadron retains final authority and may override this jurisdiction at will. Further, many CSs will have had their own interstellar navy. Plans made during the CCS stage will be implemented. All current jump-capable warships will have their Zuchai crystal cores removed, but otherwise will be allowed to continue on. New construction warships may not mount jump drives (making them SDBs or monitors), meson weapons, or mass more than 100,000 dTons. Per-ship applications to retain jump drives are usually begun at this point (although the the Duke, the only one who can grant a waiver, does so in fewer than one in a thousand applications).
In all cases where the SPA is set to take control of the local starport (or set up their own starport), they will also set up for complete control of civilian interstellar traffic out to 100 diameters. This requires that the SPA interface with any local military traffic control.
Any land set aside for Imperial military bases will at least be marked and possibly cordoned off. In many cases, construction of bases will commence immediately.
If, for whatever reason, a world has been unable to select its internal choice for planetary (or higher) nobility, then the Imperium will make a choice for the polity. Almost no polities wait until this stage, but it is codified in several texts on Imperial policies for admitting worlds, just in case. The MoS will take on a special advisory role to the new Imperial noble in assuring they are able to attend and graduate from an Imperial Studies College as rapidly as possible.
During this period, other parts of the Imperial Government will move in, build their own offices, and occupy them. This typically creates substantial new empty space in the MoS offices.
Imperial corporate interests being expanding rapidly as they attempt to exploit economic opportunities.
After a period in which the MoS and I3 both concur that the world is fulfilling it's basic LMWA obligations (taxes, human rights, extraterritorial land apportionments, interfacing with the Imperial noble, etc.), the world will move onto full Member World status. The official date is often selected several years in advance, the Emperor will officially create a Title for the new Imperial noble, who must then travel to attend an Investiture Ceremony before returning to take up their official position.
MEMBER WORLDS
Once Member World status is achieved, the admissions process is over. The new Ruling Noble officially assumes the role over a portion of the funds generated by the taxes imposed on the Member World, and is charged with using those funds on behalf of the world's development and safety in every way.
The admissions teams of the various Ministries and Services move on. The MoS is reduced the most, where often a shell of a large facility is left behind with its space rented out to other Ministry offices. Those personnel that remain often have arrived recently, and is the staff meant to serve for the long term.
Imperial corporate interests of all types are now functioning at the levels dictated by the size and power of the local economy.
The Imperial military's presence will now be controlled by the local Sector Admiral and the policies of the Duke and the Emperor. The local Count will assign part of the Subsector Navy to permanent patrol, and the Member World's SDF will assume official military jurisdiction over their 100 diameter limit (although the SPA will control civilian traffic). Only in cases of hot pursuit, LMWA violation, or local request will the Imperial Navy be legally able to breach the 100 diameter limit in a military operation (although they may still transit to local space stations).
NON-MAINWORLDS
Most starsystems have multiple worlds. The above process refers to the mainworld of a starsystem (or starsystems), or what is generally thought of as "the most important world", the one the starsystem is named after.
When a new MW is admitted into the Imperium, it has jurisdiction over all other bodies that is has a permanent manned presence located upon or in orbit of. It also has tentative jurisdiction of all other bodies.
Only those non-mainworlds with substantial economies, populations, or both have Baron's immediately appointed as Ruling Nobles. Most other non-mainworlds have their Imperial interests administered remotely by the Margrave of the mainworld itself (just as the mainworld remotely administers its interests).
Typically the Imperial may reserve one or two non-mainworlds in the starsystem for itself, either for military testing or to give over to the Emperor as another part of a pool of such worlds to make available for new Baron level Titles. If a Baron is eventually appointed over such a world, it is frequently an empty vacuum rock ball the new Baron is expected to make into something better. How well they do is often pinned to how they are viewed among the rest of the nobility.
Each non-mainworld is also assessed an official GWP tax share. In the case of barren or poor non-mainworlds, this is typically not a large value. The mainworld that has full jurisdiction over the non-mainworld is expected to pay this tax share.
The SPA may, or may not, be involved in any starport or spaceport operations among a starsystem's non-mainworlds. If the SPA is in charge of the mainworld's starport, the chances go up that it will be in charge of any other starports on any non-mainworlds. Likewise for the SPA's involvement with the mainworld's spaceport(s) and any non-mainworld spaceport(s).
Jurisdiction over non-mainworlds includes control of the space of their 100 diameter limits, as well as extending the body of local laws (through LMWA) from the mainworld to these non-mainworlds. Effectively, these non-mainworlds become a microcosm extension of the mainworld.
When a mainworld has full jurisdiction over a world, this is extremely difficult to dislodge. Only gross malfeasance of administration proved beyond a shadow of a doubt to the Duke will likely cause any change of full jurisdiction to be considered. Even in this event, measures would be taken to support the mainworld in corrective administration over the non-mainworld. Only if this too failed would a change be considered. Such actions are extremely rare. The most typical response would be to appoint an independent Baron directly attached to the local Count, or to elevate an existing Baron to Margrave. Sometimes direct Imperial rule by Sylean law is imposed, and the Ruling Noble is the polity ruler by decree. On occasion another mainworld or Megacorporation may be given jurisdiction over the non-mainworld.
Those non-mainworlds where only tentative jurisdiction is held are another matter. The Duke and Count over the mainworld see a bigger picture than the interests or pride of the starsystem's mainworld. Any party of substantial means may approach the Duke or the Count with the idea that they be given jurisdiction over a one of these non-mainworlds. This involves business plans/cases that demonstrate that the party in question is capable of conducting economic development, and that the mainworld cannot or will not conduct comparable economic development. After a period of studies and careful consideration, these requests are almost always granted unless the mainworld can successfully mount a counter proposal for development. The process involves two stages, a private stage where only the party and the Ruling Nobles and select staff know of the proposal, and the public stage where official impact studies and economic projections are created and where the mainworld is given a chance to respond. The Duke makes a final decision. This is passed to the office of the Emperor for review, but in practice it is never challenged (by the time a reversal on the Emperor's part could be returned, the Duke's decision could be six months to two years into implementation).
As an alternative to the above scenario, the party in question may approach the mainworld and point out (i.e. threaten) the above scenario, and wouldn't it be better to handle the whole thing privately, just between "friends"?
The "party" is usually a Megacorporation, but can also be a mainworld in another starsystem. Individuals that are wealthy enough to make such requests do so through the auspices of a partnership holding corporation in cooperation with a Megacorporation. Rarely, sector corporations will make such proposals.
The granting of full jurisdiction to a corporate entity usually designates a government type 1 for the non-mainworld. For other mainworlds, it would designate government type 6.
When a corporation is granted full jurisdiction over a non-mainworld, it is corporate law that effectively rules and is protected by, and made responsible to, LMWA.
When a mainworld is granted full jurisdiction over a non-mainworld in another starsystem, it too functions exactly as if it were a non-mainworld of full jurisdiction locally. Except that the mainworld of that other starsystem will undoubtedly be very, very unhappy about this.
The limited types of wars the Imperium allows are often fueled by such affairs. It is also one of the primary motivating factors for a mainworld to apply for jump-capable warship waivers from the Duke, and the reason that the Duke is most likely to grant such waivers. This creates an interesting situation, where the two parties may wind up deploying warships in close proximity to one another, and yet be unable to official use them. The Imperium stands strongly against any party other than itself conduccting warfare in space, and this includes its member worlds. However, in some cases where two such polities are absolutely intractable in their disagreements, their forces will quiety move away from local planetary bodies and out into a Oort cloud and conduct unofficial battles there.
The vast majority of warfare operations, over and covert, would be conducted on the ground of the worlds controlled by the two polities in observance of the Rules of War.
If economic development is successful, a Baron will be appointed as Ruling Noble (if there isn't already a Baron). The party with full jurisdiction will often make suggestions to the Duke about who to recommend as the new Baron.
I received some PMs asking me to work on it, and naturally I procrastinated just a teeny weency bit.
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----------------------------------------
Much of what will follow is based largely on MTU.
It is my hope that anyone who reads this might find some value for their conceptions of the TU as whole, despite the limitations that are imposed by MTU's concepts.
Thus, this will come in two parts.
The first will go over some of MTU's concepts.
The second will go over the main topic.
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----------------------------------------
PART ONE: Abbreivations & Conventions
Noble Titles
</font><blockquote>code:</font><hr /><pre style="font-size:x-small; font-family: monospace;">OTU MTU Imperial Government District (MTU)
Emperor Emperor Imperium
Archduke Archduke Domain
Sector Duke Duke Sector
Duke Count Subsector
Count -- -- (OTU: County*)
Viscount -- -- (OTU: County*)
Marquis Margrave Mainworld
Baron Baron Non-Mainworld
Baronet Baronet --
Knight Knight --
* "Two or three worlds," supposedly.</pre>[/QUOTE]All nobles have a Title (by Patent of Nobility) from the Emperor that confers upon them their noble status.
All Titles have Title Properties: cash accounts, financial instruments, starships, heirlooms, land, and Imperial Government Districts. These are bestowed upon the Title when it is created by the Title Creator (the Emperor or an Archduke). The amount bestowed is "traditionally commensurate" with the type of Title being created. In practice, it is an amount that will allow the new Title Holder a level of earnings that will prevent the rest of the aristocracy from potentially being embarrassed by a poverty stricken new member among their ranks. For the rare new Ruling Noble, it will contain sufficient funds to make sure that they are capable of maintaining a personal office capable of handling their level of Imperial Government District. Baronets and Knights receive very little, usually just cash payouts and a few gifts (mustering-out benefits). Non-Ruling Nobles receive more than this, but all such Title Properties pay/generate very little in comparison to the wealth made available to a Ruling Noble through their stipend/pay-out they receive as a fraction of the tax share passing through their level of Imperial Government District (1% of the tax share).
It is each noble's duty to nurture and develop (or in some cases protect) the value of any their Title Properties, as well as to expand them. It is a serious violation of Noblesse Oblige to reduce or damage the value of any Title Properties, and even Archdukes are not immune to punishment for violations (as seen at one time in the Gateway domain).
Baron is by far the most common new Ruling Noble Title, although that is not saying much since only a handful are created each new decade in the modern Imperial. Most non-mainworlds are rarely initially capable of paying their assessed share of Imperial Taxes, the local Count and Duke cooperate to assure that the Title is given a sufficient subsidy to pay that share of taxes. In effect, the Duke and Count are using subsector and sector funds to make sure a new element of their fief functions normally. They are, in a way, paying themselves in a circle at this point. This is a normal and accepted way of integrating poor worlds into the Imperium while the local new Ruling Noble works to nurture and develop the world's economy with an eye toward terminating the subsidy from above as quickly as possible. Non-mainworlds without a Baron have their tax shares handled through their parent mainworld and that mainworld's Margrave.
Baron to Archduke + Imperial Government District among Title Properties = Ruling Noble.
Ruling Nobles administer a portion of Imperial Taxes that flow from worlds to subsectors to sectors and thence to the Imperial level and the Emperor. This is done through the office of the Ruling Noble with the support of Ministry of the Treasury personnel.
Member Worlds owe 2% of their officially assessed GWP each year in Imperial Credits as taxes.
LMWA, Limited Member World Authority is the body of law that states a Member World is free to autonomously govern itself without Imperial interference as long as it obeys minimum law levels and pays its taxes.
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GWP: Gross World Product
CCS: Candidate Client State
CS: Client State
MW: Member World
LMWA: Limited Member World Autonomy
MoS: Ministry of State
MoT: Ministry of the Treasury
MoJ: Ministry of Justice
MoC: Ministry of Commerce
Services: Navy, Marines, Army, and Scouts
Intelligence: I3, and ISS
I3: Imperial Interstellar Intelligence
ISS: Imperial Secret Service
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PART TWO: Imerial Member World Admission
IMPERIAL MEMBER WORLD ADMISSION
This describes the post Civil War standard process for any world to be admitted into the Imperium, i.e. those worlds that apply for admission (through whatever avenue), and become Candidate Client States, Client States, and finally, Member Worlds. The processes surrounding conquered worlds are quite different, and will be described separately.
APPLICATION & CANDIDACY
OVERVIEW
Polities outside and unaffiliated with the Imperium (except for diplomatic relations) may apply for entry into the Imperium at any time. The process is extensive, and the speed at which it occurs is based upon many factors. The process also differs based on whether it is an individual world, or a polity of many worlds, although single worlds applying for entry is far more common.
THE DESIRE TO JOIN
A polity must decide, one way or another, that it wishes to join the Imperium. Why would any polity make this decision?
DEFENSE
The Imperium possesses enormous armadas of interstellar warships, legions of troops, and agents without number, far more than any one world or even small group of worlds could hope to afford. The Imperium takes the defense of its Member Worlds seriously and as a matter of honor and Noblesse Oblige. It will deploy its forces to defend its worlds against external aggression. In many cases, merely being a Client States is sufficient to deter some forms of aggression.
ECONOMIC
Trade is the lifeblood of the Imperium. Commercial interstellar vessels in untold numbers range through the Imperial worlds, bringing goods back and forth amongst the stars. The Imperium imposes duties and tariffs upon goods originating from beyond its borders, and once a world is within the Imperium, those trader barriers are gone.
Additionally, the Imperium frequently substantially upgrades the local starport, a benefits worth tens of billions of Credits, or more. In most cases, the Imperium's SPA will take over the starport completely, paying for all its operations.
PRIVATE
It is a sad but true fact that many polities join the Imperium for the sole purpose of placing the polity's ruler in the position of new Ruling Noble for the world. This combination is incredibly powerful. Not only will the new Ruling Noble possess all the Imperial Authority of their new Title, but, if successful, will retain all their original authority over the world's polity (although this can only rarely last beyond the life of a single individual). Given the more than eight-year absence (including travel time) needed to complete the full course at an Imperial Studies College, this is not always as easy as it sounds. Some polity rulers will send a proxy to become the new Imperial noble, and the proxy will attend Imperial Studies College, and hopefully will be sufficiently malleable upon return (or the reverse, the proxy will be left behind in charge of the world's polity). This arrangement includes what is known as a Title Eligibility Deferment, where the prospective Ruling Noble is given time to enroll in and complete a course of studies. Records of prior education may serve to shorten the necessary time period.
It is also true that in many cases various parts of the Imperial Government, especially the Ministry of State (MoS), Imperial Interstellar Intelligence (I3), and the Great Megacorporations will have their own agendas in assuring that the polity joins. In some cases, the above parties may have instigated the overture itself indirectly. This can involve a scale of immense bribery with literally hundreds of millions of credits (or more) raining down upon key figures of the local polity.
The benefits in wealth to the new Ruling Noble and any associates are enormous. The new Title comes with various money earning Title Properties. Access is also granted to the highest social circles of the local subsector and sector. The galas and social events that form the activities of choice for the upper crust are where the alliances and business deals are forged that can make trillions of credits
OVERTURES
The polity in question must make overtures to Imperial officials indicating the desire to apply for Member World status. This can be done through many offices, such as the Ministry of State, or one of several levels of noble offices. As the centuries have rolled by, it has become traditional for the applying polity to request an invitation to one or another major annual parties thrown by the local Duke. Unless the polity has kept its intentions secret, the Duke's servants will know what the purpose is, and will extend the invitation. Given travel and communication times, this can take anywhere from six months to two years to set up properly. A ceremony is planned for a specific time during the party, and the polity's ambassador will present an official letter of intent seeking status as a Client State. This is usually accompanied by a pause and gathering in the party, at least two speeches, several toasts, and much applause. In some rare cases the letter may request direct Member World status (such as worlds that were, at one time in the past, previous Member Worlds),
On many occasions, there may be extensive pressure on the polity from many sources to make the overture in order to begin the process. This can take the form of any number of Imperial parties, Megacorporations, nobles, Ministries, Services, etc., all of whom will have their own reasons for pushing the world into the Imperium. Sometimes the level of collective pressure forms an effectively irresistible force of media bombardment, political collusion, and covert activity to create apparent grass-roots movements.
Polities that chose to keep their intentions a secret before making the overture will have a tougher time of it. Even if they can contact the proper officials, given that there is no publicly known intent on their world, it will take extensive work in presentation and evidence from the ambassadorial team to make their case that their application is genuine. If the negotiations themselves are to be kept secret, this can extend the process of the overture itself by years.
Within the Imperium, declaring a world a Candidate Client State, Client State, or Member World is always done publicly, and is a major news event, and there can be no secrecy from this point on. Polities that have kept their intentions secret from their own populations can face considerable difficulties if they fail to properly present the case of their intentions before the announcement in the Imperium, although for some oppressive governments this isn't too large a hurdle.
It is traditional for polities that willingly join the Imperium to choose their own planetary nobles (Margraves and Barons) from among their own populace. If a polity exceeds subsector size, it may select a Count for the subsector, or even multiple Counts for multi subsector polities. No sector-wide polity has even joined the Imperium willingly, and even if it did, it is passing unlikely that it would be able to select its own Duke (the Emperor is likely to retain that privilege). The polity's choice or choices are most often parceled out at this point.
CANDIDATE CLIENT STATES (CCSs)
Each polity must undergo a period of candidacy for Client State status. The Imperium will build and staff an office of the Ministry of State, and it will monitor the opinion of the world's populace, as well as the actions of the polity government. All the other branches of the Imperial Government will also have a presence in the MoS office, though I3 will have the largest. It will perform covert monitoring, and potentially will undertake social engineering, if it is deemed necessary. During this period of time, several things must be done. The fact that the process of becoming a Client State of the Imperium must be made publicly known to the populace, local opposition and anti-Imperial activity will be tracked. The polity government must show that it has a believable plan to begin obeying the Imperial Justice Entitlement (the Imperial Human Rights Accord, the Imperial Rules of War, etc.). The polity government must show that it is making successful attempts to convince the populace that its course of action is correct (the amount of anti-Imperial and polity government opposition and terrorism will be the meter-stick that defines the success of this metric). The polity government must show that it has a believable plan to pay taxes in Imperial Credits, although it need not actually pay them at this point. If the polity has not made its internal selections of nobility (as mentioned above) before now, those selections must be made now (for those few polities that wait beyond the overture stage for making these selections, now is the time they chose).
The world's polity receives official jurisdiction over its own world (and any body with active manned outposts, either planet side or in orbit), and in most cases receives tentative official jurisdiction over all other bodies in the solar system, as well (the Imperial Navy retains an override at this point). Only in special cases will the polity not retain jurisdiction over any of the other bodies. Other parties may file with the Duke's office to receive jurisdiction over other bodies in the solar system at this time, in which case the Duke must rule on who is assigned the contested jurisdiction.
If the world has less than a D starport, and the process appears to be going well, the MoC will begin construction of a new SPA D class starport. If the world has a D, C, or B starport, the MoC will supply SPA personnel and equipment to upgrade the local starport one grade. A class local starports will get the once-over by SPA regulators who will pass on their recommendations to the MoS for future consideration. If the CCS wants the SPA to take over an existing starport permanently, this will have to be planned for at this stage. If the world appears incapable of managing its starport to SPA regulations and standards, Imperial Officials will begin pressing for an SPA takeover.
The MoS, the prospective new Imperial Ruling Noble, and the world's polity will meet many times and make decisions about what land will be given over to the Imperium, if any. This negotiation process will take years. Land for downports is generally easy to secure, because the world's polity is interested in making sure trade flows smoothly. But lands in major cities for Imperial Government offices (if any), and lands for the prospective new Imperial noble, are much harder to decide on.
The Imperium requires that all Ruling Nobles must graduate from an Imperial Studies College, and the MoS is tasked with assuring that this occurs for the new prospective Imperial Ruling Noble for the CCS during this stage (transport, education, etc.). The Client State usually pays for this, but in the case of poorer worlds, the MoS pays for it and bills the local Count or Duke for compensation (usually taking several years to work its way through red tape).
The MoS, the MoJ, I3, and the ISS all concentrate on assuring themselves that any oppressive elements of the local polity cease and desist in any activities that the Imperium would consider criminal.
Believable plans must be made to bring any interstellar warships in-line with Imperial regulations requiring that Member Worlds not operator jump-capable warships, use nuclear or meson weapons, or have ships massing more than 100,000 dTons. Existing vessels will have their Zuchai crystal cores removed at some point during the CS-stage later on. All nuclear weapons (of all forces, not just the interstellar navy) will be inventoried and accounted for. Existing meson weapon installations are tolerated for a period of up to 40 years after the vessel's construction date, but must be removed after that (or the vessel must be scrapped). Existing vessels of greater than 100,000 dTons displacement may continue on until their retirement. INI is heavily involved in these activities.
The Imperial Navy will often move a squadron of warships to the world during this stage, and for political reasons, will almost always have one stationed here during the entire period. The ship will usually be a multi-role heavy cruiser or larger, with troops, small craft, and fighters in addition to heavy weaponry.
Imperial Megacorporate interests, usually already present, will continue on. Other corporations from the nearby sector or sectors will take additional notice and many will try to expand their business here.
Arrangements are made to provide standardized converions of local dates and times to those of the Imperial Calendar.
The period of time a polity will spend as a Candidate Client State is variable. As soon as the various goals that the Imperium uses to mark the success of the process are thought to be completed, the polity can move on to full Client State status. Also, the responsible Duke must have ruled any and all contested Jurisdictions on. The litmus test is often held to be: Whenever the Candidate Client State is ready to move on to implementation of all the plans it has been making. Every world is different in the amount of time it takes.
CLIENT STATES
At this point, all the planning a Candidate Client State has made is put to the test, and implementation gets underway. The MoS and I3 are watching every step of the way. The SPA may choose to expand its facilities, or assist in expanding local facilities, based on the economic outlook of the world and the current grade of the starport. Taxes must now be paid in Imperial Credits. The MoS will take the lead in making sure the Imperium and the world both obey the rules of Limited Member World Autonomy (LMWA), and in introducing the world's polity to its permanent interface with the Imperial Government via its new Ruling Noble. The new noble will also be assisted by the MoS, as well.
Naturally, there are often numerous problems at this stage. The sudden drain placed on the CS by paying its GWP share of taxes often causes an initial economic down turn that raises anti-Imperial opposition (no matter how successfully quelled during the CCS stage). In the long term, this down turn is flattened out by returning economic benefits from interstellar trade. Some CSs decide at this stage that they want the SPA to take over their existing starport, causing problems with the late stage of the decision.
Final jurisdictions over bodies in the solar system (other than the polity's own world and outposts; which have already been officially granted) are assigned at this point, and all interested parties are clear on this (although the Imperial Military retains an override at this point). Further disputes may be filed, but official jurisdictions are difficult to transfer.
Most CSs that can afford it will chose to have a Self Defense Force (SDF). This will include air, sea, land, and space forces, and will almost always include all pre-existing military forces. The CS will be given temporary military jurisdiction out to its 100 diameter limit; although at this stage the locally stationed Imperial Navy squadron retains final authority and may override this jurisdiction at will. Further, many CSs will have had their own interstellar navy. Plans made during the CCS stage will be implemented. All current jump-capable warships will have their Zuchai crystal cores removed, but otherwise will be allowed to continue on. New construction warships may not mount jump drives (making them SDBs or monitors), meson weapons, or mass more than 100,000 dTons. Per-ship applications to retain jump drives are usually begun at this point (although the the Duke, the only one who can grant a waiver, does so in fewer than one in a thousand applications).
In all cases where the SPA is set to take control of the local starport (or set up their own starport), they will also set up for complete control of civilian interstellar traffic out to 100 diameters. This requires that the SPA interface with any local military traffic control.
Any land set aside for Imperial military bases will at least be marked and possibly cordoned off. In many cases, construction of bases will commence immediately.
If, for whatever reason, a world has been unable to select its internal choice for planetary (or higher) nobility, then the Imperium will make a choice for the polity. Almost no polities wait until this stage, but it is codified in several texts on Imperial policies for admitting worlds, just in case. The MoS will take on a special advisory role to the new Imperial noble in assuring they are able to attend and graduate from an Imperial Studies College as rapidly as possible.
During this period, other parts of the Imperial Government will move in, build their own offices, and occupy them. This typically creates substantial new empty space in the MoS offices.
Imperial corporate interests being expanding rapidly as they attempt to exploit economic opportunities.
After a period in which the MoS and I3 both concur that the world is fulfilling it's basic LMWA obligations (taxes, human rights, extraterritorial land apportionments, interfacing with the Imperial noble, etc.), the world will move onto full Member World status. The official date is often selected several years in advance, the Emperor will officially create a Title for the new Imperial noble, who must then travel to attend an Investiture Ceremony before returning to take up their official position.
MEMBER WORLDS
Once Member World status is achieved, the admissions process is over. The new Ruling Noble officially assumes the role over a portion of the funds generated by the taxes imposed on the Member World, and is charged with using those funds on behalf of the world's development and safety in every way.
The admissions teams of the various Ministries and Services move on. The MoS is reduced the most, where often a shell of a large facility is left behind with its space rented out to other Ministry offices. Those personnel that remain often have arrived recently, and is the staff meant to serve for the long term.
Imperial corporate interests of all types are now functioning at the levels dictated by the size and power of the local economy.
The Imperial military's presence will now be controlled by the local Sector Admiral and the policies of the Duke and the Emperor. The local Count will assign part of the Subsector Navy to permanent patrol, and the Member World's SDF will assume official military jurisdiction over their 100 diameter limit (although the SPA will control civilian traffic). Only in cases of hot pursuit, LMWA violation, or local request will the Imperial Navy be legally able to breach the 100 diameter limit in a military operation (although they may still transit to local space stations).
NON-MAINWORLDS
Most starsystems have multiple worlds. The above process refers to the mainworld of a starsystem (or starsystems), or what is generally thought of as "the most important world", the one the starsystem is named after.
When a new MW is admitted into the Imperium, it has jurisdiction over all other bodies that is has a permanent manned presence located upon or in orbit of. It also has tentative jurisdiction of all other bodies.
Only those non-mainworlds with substantial economies, populations, or both have Baron's immediately appointed as Ruling Nobles. Most other non-mainworlds have their Imperial interests administered remotely by the Margrave of the mainworld itself (just as the mainworld remotely administers its interests).
Typically the Imperial may reserve one or two non-mainworlds in the starsystem for itself, either for military testing or to give over to the Emperor as another part of a pool of such worlds to make available for new Baron level Titles. If a Baron is eventually appointed over such a world, it is frequently an empty vacuum rock ball the new Baron is expected to make into something better. How well they do is often pinned to how they are viewed among the rest of the nobility.
Each non-mainworld is also assessed an official GWP tax share. In the case of barren or poor non-mainworlds, this is typically not a large value. The mainworld that has full jurisdiction over the non-mainworld is expected to pay this tax share.
The SPA may, or may not, be involved in any starport or spaceport operations among a starsystem's non-mainworlds. If the SPA is in charge of the mainworld's starport, the chances go up that it will be in charge of any other starports on any non-mainworlds. Likewise for the SPA's involvement with the mainworld's spaceport(s) and any non-mainworld spaceport(s).
Jurisdiction over non-mainworlds includes control of the space of their 100 diameter limits, as well as extending the body of local laws (through LMWA) from the mainworld to these non-mainworlds. Effectively, these non-mainworlds become a microcosm extension of the mainworld.
When a mainworld has full jurisdiction over a world, this is extremely difficult to dislodge. Only gross malfeasance of administration proved beyond a shadow of a doubt to the Duke will likely cause any change of full jurisdiction to be considered. Even in this event, measures would be taken to support the mainworld in corrective administration over the non-mainworld. Only if this too failed would a change be considered. Such actions are extremely rare. The most typical response would be to appoint an independent Baron directly attached to the local Count, or to elevate an existing Baron to Margrave. Sometimes direct Imperial rule by Sylean law is imposed, and the Ruling Noble is the polity ruler by decree. On occasion another mainworld or Megacorporation may be given jurisdiction over the non-mainworld.
Those non-mainworlds where only tentative jurisdiction is held are another matter. The Duke and Count over the mainworld see a bigger picture than the interests or pride of the starsystem's mainworld. Any party of substantial means may approach the Duke or the Count with the idea that they be given jurisdiction over a one of these non-mainworlds. This involves business plans/cases that demonstrate that the party in question is capable of conducting economic development, and that the mainworld cannot or will not conduct comparable economic development. After a period of studies and careful consideration, these requests are almost always granted unless the mainworld can successfully mount a counter proposal for development. The process involves two stages, a private stage where only the party and the Ruling Nobles and select staff know of the proposal, and the public stage where official impact studies and economic projections are created and where the mainworld is given a chance to respond. The Duke makes a final decision. This is passed to the office of the Emperor for review, but in practice it is never challenged (by the time a reversal on the Emperor's part could be returned, the Duke's decision could be six months to two years into implementation).
As an alternative to the above scenario, the party in question may approach the mainworld and point out (i.e. threaten) the above scenario, and wouldn't it be better to handle the whole thing privately, just between "friends"?
The "party" is usually a Megacorporation, but can also be a mainworld in another starsystem. Individuals that are wealthy enough to make such requests do so through the auspices of a partnership holding corporation in cooperation with a Megacorporation. Rarely, sector corporations will make such proposals.
The granting of full jurisdiction to a corporate entity usually designates a government type 1 for the non-mainworld. For other mainworlds, it would designate government type 6.
When a corporation is granted full jurisdiction over a non-mainworld, it is corporate law that effectively rules and is protected by, and made responsible to, LMWA.
When a mainworld is granted full jurisdiction over a non-mainworld in another starsystem, it too functions exactly as if it were a non-mainworld of full jurisdiction locally. Except that the mainworld of that other starsystem will undoubtedly be very, very unhappy about this.
The limited types of wars the Imperium allows are often fueled by such affairs. It is also one of the primary motivating factors for a mainworld to apply for jump-capable warship waivers from the Duke, and the reason that the Duke is most likely to grant such waivers. This creates an interesting situation, where the two parties may wind up deploying warships in close proximity to one another, and yet be unable to official use them. The Imperium stands strongly against any party other than itself conduccting warfare in space, and this includes its member worlds. However, in some cases where two such polities are absolutely intractable in their disagreements, their forces will quiety move away from local planetary bodies and out into a Oort cloud and conduct unofficial battles there.
The vast majority of warfare operations, over and covert, would be conducted on the ground of the worlds controlled by the two polities in observance of the Rules of War.
If economic development is successful, a Baron will be appointed as Ruling Noble (if there isn't already a Baron). The party with full jurisdiction will often make suggestions to the Duke about who to recommend as the new Baron.
